Chester has had a full programme of heritage events already this summer!
First, I took part in the Chester Heritage Festival, during which I gave a talk at St Werburgh's Church.
The church has a stunning collection of Trena Cox stained glass from the 1930s - full of pattern, vibrant colour and interesting iconographical details.
Next, was the University of Chester's inaugural Festival of Ideas.
I gave my talk at the University of Chester Chapel where there is a really important collection of stained glass spanning Trena Cox's entire career - including her first commission in 1924, an example from the 1930s and one from 1962. These windows explore the theme of education and contain some fascinating details. It is particularly interesting to see the evolution of Cox's style during her long career
The history of the Chapel itself is a very surprising story!
Although I find public speaking a little daunting, I really enjoyed meeting everyone who came to my talks and answering their questions. These talks were in anticipation of the Trena Cox exhibition I have curated for Chester Cathedral, which opens on 7 October - hopefully the talk attendees will feel encouraged to visit the exhibition!
If you missed these talks, I will be repeating them during Heritage Open Days in September - look out for more information over the coming weeks.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing more about Trena in October. You’ve really done a lot to help me appreciate not just Trena Cox, but Staines glass in general! Thank you!